UPDATE:Crystal Palace could now sign £30m striker compared to Kylian Mbappe in January

Crystal Palace could now sign £30m striker compared to Kylian Mbappe in January

Crystal Palace could bring Hugo Ekitike to Selhurst Park in January – a player who has been compared to Kylian Mbappe.

It was Foot Mercato who claimed that Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman could make another move for the Frenchman in January after failing with a summer swoop.

So, who compared Crystal Palace target Hugo Ekitike to Kylian Mbappe? Let’s take a look…

What’s the story?

Well, it was Franck Chalencon – Manager of Stade Reims B – who compared the PSG No.44 to the World Cup winner.

Ekitike actually made 14 appearances under the 46-year-old while playing for Stade Reims B, scoring six goals.

Therefore, Chalencon is well placed to comment on the 21-year-old’s ability.

Speaking to TNT Sports midway through the 2021/22 campaign, the Frenchman said: “If he finishes the year as he started it, he might end up scoring 16 goals. The only ones who did that (at his age) before were Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema.

“I’m not saying he will do the same career but statistically, the ones who can compare to him are those two.”

MORE PALACE STORIE
The Daily Mail have also compared Ekitike to Mbappe – as well as another footballing icon in David Trezeguet.

Crystal Palace could land a bargain in Hugo Ekitike

Due to the circumstances, Crystal Palace could get themselves a diamond in Ekitike.

The Reims-born wonderkid impressed enough during that aforementioned 2021/22 campaign for PSG to spend €35m (£30m) on his signature.

However – due to the presence of Mbappe, as well as Lionel Messi and Neymar before their departures – Ekitike found game time hard to come by in attack at the Parc des Princes

Now, Luis Enrique appears to have no interest in keeping the precocious striker, handing him just eight minutes in Ligue 1 this season as the Spaniard leaves his No.44 out of all but one matchday squad.

If Ekitike’s strange exile means we get him for a cut-price fee, it could prove to be a bargain.